Lock position indicator



Feb. 21, 1967 c, s 3,304,756

LOCK POSITION INDICATOR Filed Nov. 25, 1964 far/Es L. 500 3,

IN VEN TOR.

WHANN 8 McMAN/GAL A lorneys for li o alkali) by Eli W.w m

United States Patent Ofiice 3,364,756 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 3,304,756LOCK POSITION INDICATOR Charles L. Earls, Palm Springs, Calif., assignorto Adams Rite Manufacturing Company, Glendale, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,095 Claims. (Cl. 70-432)The present invention relates generally to lock mechanisms of the typeutilized for doors having a hollow narrow stile frame structure withinwhich the lock mechanism is mounted; and is more particularly concernedwith improved means for visually indicating whether the lock mechanismis in a locked or unlocked position.

In the interest of occupants safety, current building codes haveprohibited the use of flush bolts orsurface bolts, Security is, however,obtainable under the code which permits use of key controlled lockingdevices, provided, these locking devices are of a type that will bereadily distinguishable as locked. Having the foregoing code limitationsin mind, the present invention has for an object an improved lockposition indicator for a key controlled lock which will visually appriseoccupants as to whether the lock is in locked or unlocked position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, dependableindicating mechanism of pleasing appearance, which can be mounted on theexterior surface of a door stile and connected to an existing lockmechanism with a minimum change or modification.

Further objects of invention will be brought out in the following partof the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose offully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrativepurposes only:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a door stile framemember showing the cooperative relationship between the controlled lockmechanism and the position indicator of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary edge view of the door stile in which portionshave been cut away to show details of construction relative to the interconnecting means be tween the lock mechanism and the indicator;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 33 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a reduced fragmentary section taken substantially on line 44of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view, taken substantially online 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view showing certain parts of theindicator member.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes,there is disclosed in FIG. 1 an extruded narrow stile portion 10 as usedin a door frame and within which there is mounted a lock mechanism whichis under the control of a key-cylinder assembly 11. Adjacent to, and asshown as being surface mounted on the stile frame member directly belowthe key-cylinder assembly is a lock position indicator, as generallyindicated by the numeral 12, embodying the features of the presentinvention.

It is within the contemplation of the broad concepts of the presentinvention that the lock position indicator may be utilized withdifferent types of lock mechanisms. However, in order that the inventionmay be more clearly understood, for purposes of illustration, theindicator mechanism is operatively associated herein with a lockmechanism having a construction such as disclosed in my previouslyissued Patent No. 2,989,859, dated June 27, 1961, and entitled NarrowStile Double Bolt Door Lock.

Briefly, the lock mechanism comprises key controlled actuating means(not disclosed) which is operatively coupled with a swingable boltstructure 13. This bolt is supported between lock casing side frames 14and 15 on a pivot 16 for movement to locked and unlocked positions.

In the unlocked position, the bolt 13 is retracted into and extendslongitudinally of the stile member 10, while in the locked position, thebolt is in an extending projecting position as shown in FIG. 1, whereinit extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stile andprojects through a slot 17 of a face plate 18 which is re tained bymounting screws 1919.

The swingable bolt 13 of the lock mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4, isoperatively connected with a reciprocably mounted floor bolt structure,as generally indicated by the numeral 19. This structure contains aplate member 20 which carries at its upper end a right angled projection21 which is adapted to extend into a slot portion of the bolt, thisprojection being fitted with a transversely extending pin 22. The pin 22has each of its opposite ends positioned in a radially extending slot 23formed on each side of the bolt. This slot and pin connection operatesto reciprocate the floor bolt in a linear direction. Likewise, the pin22 will have a linear translatory movement as the bolt 13 is movedbetween locked and unlocked positions. The pin 22 is extended so as toproject through an opening 24 in the adjacent wall of the stile member10, so that the movement of this pin during lock actuation may beutilized as an actuating element for the lock position indicator whichwill now be described in detail.

The lock position indicator 12 comprises a hollow housing 25 which isclosed at its upper and lower ends, mounting screws 2626 being providedfor securing the housing in mounted position. The housing is of elongaterectangular configuration, and on its front side is provided with anelongate viewing opening or window 27. Rearwardly the housing is open.

Within the housing there is rotatably mounted an elongate generallycylindrical indicating member 28 which is arranged with right angledindica bearing planar areas 29 and 30 which may be selectively disposedin viewing positions through the window 27. These areas may respectivelycarry such indicia as Open and Locked to indicate the position of thelock mechanism.

The indicating member 28 is rotatably supported by upper and lowerprojecting pivots 31 and 32 respectively, these pivots being arranged tolaterally bear against interior bearing shoulders 33 and 34, theshoulder in each case being provided with an ancuate notch 35 to receivethe associated pivot. The pivots are retained in mounted position bymeans of a retainer member 36 which serves to close the rear side of thehousing and hold the pivots in operating position, the retainer memberhaving end portions 37 and 38 which bear against the associated pivot ineach case as shown in FIG. 5. The retainer also is provided with anopening 39 which registers with the opening 24 to permit passage of theoutermost end of pin 22 into the housing 25.

In order that the translatory movement of the pin 22 may be transmittedinto rotary motion of the indicating member 28, the surface of theindicating member is provided with a slot 40 which is spiraled about thelongitu dinal axis of rotation of the indicating member. The slot hasend terminations in -degree angular relation so that when the end of thepin 22 is moved between its reciprocable limits corresponding to thelocked and unlocked positions of the bolt 13,'the indicating member willbe rotated through an angle of 90 degrees to re spectively display theproper indicia bearing area 29 and 30 in the opening or window 27 so asto indicate the lock position.

With the locked position indicator as herein described and itscombination with the lock mechanism, full security is obtained throughthe key assembly control 11, while at the same time a visible indicationof the lock position is shown at all times.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do notwish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned,except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A surface mountable indicator mechanism for a door lock, comprising:

(a) an elongate hollow housing for mounting adjacent said lock, saidhousing having an open back and a front viewing opening therein;

(b) bearing shoulders in said housing positioned respectively onopposite ends of said viewing opening;

() an elongate indicator member in said housing having end pivotsrespectively laterally engaged with said bearing shoulders andsupporting the indicator member for rotational movement, said indicatormember having longitudinally extending adjacent indicia bearing surfaceareas;

(d) a closure for the open back of the housing having parts engaged withsaid pivots to retain them against said shoulders when the housing issurface mounted;

and

(e) motion transmitting means, connectable between said indicator memberand a movable part of said lock, for rotating said member to positionsrespectively placing said indicia bearing surfaces in said viewingopening in accordance with the actuation of the lock to a locked and anunlocked condition.

2. A surface mountable lock position indicator mechanism, comprising:

(a) a hollow housing adapted to be mounted in an upright position on aside wall surface of a door stile containing a locking mechanismtherein, said housing being open rearwardly and having a front viewingopening therein;

(b) an elongate generally cylindrical indicator member in said housinghaving end pivots mounting it operative in bearing structures at the topand bottom of the housing to support the indicating member for rotation,said member including longitudinally extending adjacent indicia bearingsurface areas positioned on one side of its axis of rotation;

(c) a surface groove on said member extending spirally of said axis ofrotation on the opposite side from said indicia bearing surface areas;and

(d) a laterally reciprocable member operable by a movable part of saidlock between limits corresponding to locked and unlocked positions ofthe locking mechanism, said reciprocable member extending into the rearof said housing and having an end portion movable in said groove,whereby said indicator member is rotated to positions respectivelyplacing said indicia bearing surfaces in said viewing opening inaccordance with the actuation of the lock to a locked and an unlocked"position.

3. A surface mountable lock position indicator mechanism, comprising:

(a) an elongate hollow housing having a front viewing opening therein;(b) a rotatably mounted elongate indicator member in said housing havingend pivots removably retained 5 against bearing shoulders at the ends ofsaid housing,

said indicator member having longitudinally extending adjacent indiciabearing surface areas;

(c) a spiraled surface groove on said member having its ends terminatingat circumferentially spaced radial points in right-angled relation; and

(d) a pin supported for linear movements by a movable part of said lockin a path parallel to said axis, said pin having an end positioned insaid groove and operating to actuate said member to positions at saidpoints respectively placing said indicia bearing surfaces in saidviewing opening in accordance with the actuation of the lock to a lockedand an unlocked condition.

4. A lock position indicator according to claim 3, wherein the housingis open at its rear side, and the end pivots of the indicator member arerespectively held against their associated bearing shoulders by aretainer member positioned in said open rear side of the housing.

5. The combination comprising:

(a) a key actuated lock structure mounted in a hollow door stile andincluding a bolt selectively movable to locked and unlocked positions;

(b) an element connected for unitary movement with said both and havinga linear path of movement between limits corresponding to said lockedand unlocked positions, said element having an end projecting through aside wall of the door stile;

(c) an elongate indicator member supported on an outside surface of theside wall by end bearing means providing an axis of rotation extendingparallel to the path of movement of said element, said indicator memberhaving longitudinally extending adjacently positioned indicia bearingsurface areas; and

(d) a surface groove on said indicator member longitudinally spiraledabout said axis of rotation, and slidingly receiving the projecting endof said element therein, whereby said indicia bearing surfaces will beselectively moved to an indicating position in accordance with theactuation of the lock to a locked and an unlocked condition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS7/1906 Great Britain.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner,

1. A SURFACE MOUNTABLE INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR A DOOR LOCK, COMPRISING:(A) AN ELONGATE HOLLOW HOUSING FOR MOUNTING ADJACENT SAID LOCK, SAIDHOUSING HAVING AN OPEN BACK AND A FRONT VIEWING OPENING THEREIN; (B)BEARING SHOULDERS IN SAID HOUSING POSITIONED RESPECTIVELY ON OPPOSITEENDS OF SAID VIEWING OPENING; (C) AN ELONGATE INDICTOR MEMBER IN SAIDHOUSING HAVING END PIVOTS RESPECTIVELY LATERALLY ENGAGED WITH SAIDBEARING SHOULDERS AND SUPPORTING THE INDICATOR MEMBER FOR ROTATIONALMOVEMENT, SAID INDICATOR MEMBER HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ADJACENTINDICIA BEARING SURFACE AREAS; (D) A CLOSURE FOR THE OPEN BACK OF THEHOUSING HAVING PARTS ENGAGED WITH SAID PIVOTS TO RETAIN THEM AGAINSTSAID SHOULDERS WHEN THE HOUSING IS SURFACE MOUNTED; AND (E) MOTIONTRANSMITTING MEANS, CONNECTABLE BETWEEN SAID INDICATOR MEMBER AND AMOVABLE PART OF SAID LOCK, FOR ROTATING SAID MEMBER TO POSITIONSRESPECTIVELY PLACING SAID INDICIA BEARING SURFACES IN SAID VIEWINGOPENING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACTUATION OF THE LOCK TO A "LOCKED" ANDAN "UNLOCKED" CONDITION.